by Jaylon Brunson

At the beginning of the semester, I did not fully know what I was getting into when I became a Dialogue Ambassador. I just knew I cared about having real conversations, ones that mean something. I thought it would be about helping people talk through tough stuff and making sure everyone had a chance to speak. That is what I thought it would be at least. But honestly, it became something deeper.

Our first training session, I remember sitting there on Zoom thinking, “hmm, this is different.” It was not just about learning how to lead discussions, it was about us being real, too. I had to check myself and be ready to be open in ways I had not before. It was not just about other people’s stories, it included mine, too.

Throughout the semester, we held dialogues that took our conversations in places I did not expect like opening up about family pressures or moments where people felt unseen on campus. We talked about race, identity and mental health. And even though I came in to support others, I found myself thinking about my own experiences, times when I felt ignored, misunderstood or like I had to hold back. This feels different when you are in a room where people are being honest, no judgment.

One of the most powerful conversations was during a session where we talked about “Are We One Pride?”, what it means to really belong at this school. People shared stuff about feeling disconnected or about pressure they feel from their own friends, family and school community when it comes to things like mental health. That stuck with me, because it reminded me that just letting people talk without cutting them off or trying to fix things is already a big deal. Someone in the audience approached me afterward and said he really enjoyed the dialogue and wished there were more conversations like this on campus. He told me, “Even though it shouldn’t still be a problem, it clearly is,and it still needs to be addressed.”

Being a Dialogue Ambassador changed how I listen and how I show up in everyday life. I do not just wait for my turn to speak, I always listen to actually hear people. I am more patient; more understanding and I have learned when to step up and when to step back.

At first, I thought I was signing up to help others. Now I realize this role helped me too. I grew more confident, more grounded and more open. If anything, I have learned that real change does not always come from big actions it can start with a single conversation.